Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry as a means of studying the composition of dietary clays

Dietary clays are food supplements that are consumed for a variety of health reasons. Since they are not marketed as food, nor are they marketed as drugs, the FDA does not actively regulate them. Our research is a first examination of the elemental composition of nine different dietary clays, all purchased off the shelf. Our findings of the elemental compositions of these clays are presented and implications discussed.